Key case and key therefor



July 14, 1953 H. N. oLsEN KEY cAsE Ann my mEREFoR.

Filed Aug. 26, 1949' IN V EN TOR.' M4

Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED Y.STATES PATENT QFFICE it c Y 2,645,113 K y i Y- A KEY, oAsEAND KEY THEREFOR Homer Olsen, Ogden, Utah Application August 26, 1949, Serial No. 112,625

. 1 The present invention relatesto key cases and particularly to a key case adapted to 'retain a plurality of keys therein and including means for selecting and ejecting a desired( key for use.

The primary object of the invention is toprovide a key case in which a number of keys can be stored in a small space and in which a desired key can be selected by the sense of sight or touch and released for usev by depression of a selector slide. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a key case having a plurality of channels in which a number of keys can be stored in predetermined order, the keys being slidable in the channels to a projected position of use, in which the keys are retained in stored position by magnetic attraction and a selector is provided for mechanically locating a desired key by sense of sight or touch and releasing the same from the stored position for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a key case having channels for storing a plurality of keys and in which a selected key after release from the stored position may drop to the bottom of its Vchannel withthe key end of the shank projecting fromv the case and be locked in such position for use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a key case in' which a key after use may be caused to return tostored position and be automatically retained in said position until it is positively ejected for further use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel key member adapted for use in the key case according to the invention.

The invention is embodied in a key case comprising a casing in which are provided a plurality of slots or channels adapted slidably to receive a key, means is provided for releasably retaining the keys in stored position in the respective channels and a selector means is provided for ejecting a selected key from the retaining means so that it can slide in its channel to a projected position for use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention as well as the details of construction of a preferred embodiment or" the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specication and reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings: l

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section of a key case embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2.-'-2 of Fig.

1, and y ,t Y Fig. 3 is a bottom vend view, partly in section, Fig. 4 is a top end view, and v Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the key members. 1 l

Referring now more particularly to the draw- 11 Claims. (Cl. '7D- 456) ings, the key case 'according to the invention comprises a" flat, generally rectangular case or body 5 provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending open ended key channels or slots, defined by Ytransverse' parallel partition walls'i. Each of the walls 'licarries a longitudinally extending rib 8 which projects into its respective key channel and terminates short of the lower end thereof for a purpose presently to be described.

At the lower end of the casing, each of the partition Walls l is formed with an arcuate bearing flange 9, which with the lower end of the ribs 8, which are cut off on an arc as a continuation of the arc ofthe iianges 9, form an arcuate bearing for a circular lug or boss l on the side of each key member ll at the lbase end thereof.

The key members according to the invention consist of a headless shank adapted to be retained in engagement With the case by cooperation of the lugs I0 thereof with the bearing flanges 9 so that the body of the case serves as a handle for the keys when the latter are released to slide to a projected position for use. Instead of having the usual enlarged head which serves as a handle in ordinary keys, the key il is made substantially the same width from end to end thereof and With the straight back edge extending throughout its length so that it rests against the back wall of the key channel when the key is in position to slide therein. Due to the elimination of enlarged head ends on the key members the key case' can be made very small Y and compact while still holding a goodly numthe channel and the lug may turn in the bear--v ing formed by the nange 9 because in this position, the flat face l2 of the -lug is clear of the lower end of the rib 8. One side wall or" the casing 5 is slotted at its lower end at I3 to accommodate the shank of the key when the latter is rotated t'o a position at ninety `degrees to the axis of the channels.

It will be noted that when the lug Hl seats on the arcuate bearing flange and the key is Divoted slightly out of alignment with its channel, the flat facel l2 on the lug also moves out of alignment with therib 8 and the circular peonly be returned to retracted position in the channel when it is vertically aligned with the channel and the flat face I2 is in position to ride up on the rib 8.

The keys are releasably retained in retracted position housed within the casing 5 by means of a permanent magnet I4 which extends across the top of all of the channels 6. The magnet I4. is in the form of an inverted U-shaped bar and is seated at its ends on upstanding shoulders I5 carried by the end wall partitions of the case, the shoulders I5 extending between the sides of` the magnet at the ends and holding it rigidly in position. In order that the magnet I4. will attract and retain the keys in retracted position when they are moved within its` range, the keys II or the lugs I may be made of magnetic material. In practice it is preferred that the lugs I0 be made of soft iron or other suitable mag netic material, as it is usually the practice to make the key Shanks of brass.

The keys are released from engagement, with the magnet by means ol a combined selector and ejector slide I6 in the form of av fork which straddles the magnet I4 and the legs Il of which project slightly into the upper ends of the channels 6 when the same isv in retracted position. The ejector I6 is provided with a knob or handle I8 which projects through anV elongated slot I9 in the upper end wall of the casing, which is in the form of a removable cap, 20, and is resiliently held in retracted position by a longitudinal spring bar 2| which extends through the fork thereof above the magnet I4. rIhe ends of the spring bar 2I are turned downwardly at its ends and formed into coil springs 22. which; are` an-r chored in the upper ends of the shoulders I be yond the ends of the magnet I4.

As stated above, the prongs or legs I7 of the selector slide I6 are long enoughtoproject slightly into the upper ends of the key channels so that they are too long to permit free sliding motion of the slide back and forth along the tops of the partitions 'I. Therefore, when the knob handle I 8 of the slide is moved laterally to shift the slide, the same first tilts and depressesl the spring bar 2| until the ends of the legs slide upY and over the top of the adjacent partition 'I into theV next key channel. Thisk operation is accompanied by a visible movement and a click that is discernible to both the sense of hearing and the senseA of touch. Therefore, with the various keys disposed in known positions in the case, the user, knowing how many partitions the slide haspassed, knows over which key the selector rests, By simply moving it to the channel housing the key desired and depressing thev knob I8,the selectedkey will be moved by engagement ofthe ends of the legs I I therewith out ofthe range of; the lines of force of the magnet I4 andV willfall toV the bottom of the channel where it is stopped by engagement of the lug IS with the end bearing flange 9. If the key case is then` rotated clockwise from the position shown, in Fig. 2, the key and lug being integral rotate and the key becomes; locked in projection position ready for use with, the case acting as a handle.

When it is desired to return the key. t0; stored position, the case is rotated counterclockwise to.. align the key with the channel inwhichposition it can slide freely into the channel` andi the case4 is upended to cause the key to slide by gravity into the channel and engage the .magnet again.

In this manner any key in thecase can bemechanically located by the sense of touch, caused tov fall to the bottom of the case, locked in position for use and be returned to its stored position in the case.

While a preferred construction and mode of operation of the invention has been shown and described by wayv of illustration, it4 will be understood that various modifications in the details of' construction and operation may be resorted to without departing from the principles or spirit ofthe invention within the scope of the appended claims..

I claim:

1. A key case comprising a casing, means providing a plurality of key slots in the casing each adapted to slidably receive a key having an end portion, of, magnetic material, a magnet mounted in said casing across one end` of said slots to retainI the keys therein, by magnetic attraction, and.

means mounted in the casing for selectively dis.- engaging the keys from the magnet.

2. In combination ai key case comprising a Casing having. aplurality of key channels.- therein, a key member. in each. channel. each key member being formed atleast. in part oi magnetic mate. rial andhaving a bearing lug at, one end adapted to slide in said channel, said casing having a, slot adjacent anl en dof each. channel f or passing the key.. memberI and; a, bearingl for` receivingl and, retaining saidA bearing lugat the. last mentioned: end of eachv of, said channels, a magnet mountedin saidA casing adjacentI thev other end. of said channels toreleasably retain, the keys therein, by,

magnetic attractionand means. for selectively, re-. leasing the, keys from. engagement with thel magnet.

3. In combination, a.E key, case comprising a casing having a plurality ofkey., channels. therein, a key member in, each charmel,` each., key member being formed at least impart, of, magnetic,v mate.

rial andhaving abearing. lug-atv one end adapted to slide.v in Said; channel., Said; casina having; a.

slot adjacent one; end, of each. channelfor pass-4 ing the key member and-abeaiing for receiving-I andV retaining. said bearing lug at` thelast mentioned end of eachV of,- said channels, a magnet.

casing haw/inge;J plurality of.4 'key channels therein openat one end thereoal longitudinal rib pro,-y

jecting into. said channel., a key'A member freely slidable. in each ofi said channels. andl adapted to be housedtherein.,arsllbtbntially circular bearing lug carried by each of said key. members; at the base end thereofandhaving a ,c3113. away. poi;- tion adaptedtcseat Onfsad names-ns, providing.

an, arcuate bearing wall atY the open; end; of each` of said channels, forreceiving; andretaining said lugs, when; the. keymembers are. shifted tol pro.

jected position, said ribs. terminatingA short of said bearing walls to permit rotation ot'said bearing lugs. onsaid arcuate bearing wallswhen the cutaway portion'. off said bearing lugsy clears the ends of said ribs, means'adjacentthe other` end of said channels for releasably retaining the key members therein and# means for selectively releasing the key members from said retaining means.

5. In combination, akey case comprising, a cas-- ing having a plurality of key channels therein open at one end thereof, a longitudinal rib projecting into said channel, a key member being formed at least in part of magnetic material and freely slidable in each of said channels adapted to be housed therein, a substantially circular bearing lug carried by each of said key members at the head end thereof and having a cut away portion adapted to seat said rib, means providing an arcuate bearing wall at the open end of each of said channels for receiving and retaining said lugs when the key members are shifted to projected position, said ribs terminating short of said bearing walls to permit rotation of said bearing lugs on said arcuate bearing walls when the cutaway portion of said bearing lugs clears the ends of said ribs, a magnet mounted in said casing adjacent the other end of said channels to releasably retain the keys therein by magnetic attraction and means for selectively releasing the keys from engagement with themagnet.

6. In combination, a key case comprising a casing having a plurality of key channels therein open at one end thereof, a longitudinal rib projecting into said channel, a key member being formed at least in part of magnetic material and. freely slidable in each of said channels and adapted to be housed therein, a substantially circular bearing lug carried by each of said key members at the head end thereof and having a cut away portion adapted to seat said rib, means providing an arcuate bearing wail at the open end of each of said channels for receiving and retaining said lugs when the key members are shifted to projected position, said ribs terminating short of said bearing walls to permit rota tion of said bearing lugs on said arcuate bearing Walls when the cutaway portion of said bearing lugs clears the end of said ribs, a magnet mounted in said casing adjacent the other end of said channels to releasably retain the keys thereu in by magnetic attraction and means for selectively releasing the keys from engagement 'with the magnet, comprising a depressible retracted ejector member slidably mounted in said casing and adapted to be aligned with a selected key to be released.

7. In combination, a key case comprising a casing having a plurality of key channels therein,

a key member in each channel, each key member being formed at least in part of magnetic material and having a bearing lug at one end adapted to slide in said channel, said casing having a slot adjacent one end of each channel for passing the key member and a bearing for receiving and retaining said bearing lug at the last mentioned end of each of said channels, a magnet mounted in said casing adjacent the other end of said channels to releasably retain the keys therein by magnetic attraction and means for selectively releasing the keys from engagement with the magnet, comprising a depressible spring retracted ejector member slidably mounted in said casing and adapted to be aligned with a selected key to be released, said depressible ejector having an end portion normally extending into the end of said channels and slidable over the edges thereof from channel to channel as said member is slid to a position over a selected key channel whereby a desired key can be selected by the sense of touch.

8. In combination, a key case comprising a casing having a plurality of key channels therein open at one end thereof, a longitudinal rib projecting into said channel, a key member being formed at least in part of magnetic material and freely slidable in each of said channels and adapted to be housed therein, a substantially circular bearing lug carried by each of said key members at the head end thereof and having a cut away portion adapted to seat said rib, means providing an arcuate bearing wall at the open end of each of said channels for receiving and retaining said lugs when thel key members are shifted to projected position, said ribs terminating short of said bearing Walls to permit rotation of said bearing lugs on said arcuate bearing walls when the cutaway portion of said bearing lugs clears the ends of said ribs, a magnet mounted in said casing adjacent the other end of said channels to releasably retain the keys therein by magnetic attraction and means for selectively releasing the keys from engagement with the 1nagnet, comprising a depressible spring retracted ejector member slidably mounted in said casing and adapted toV be aligned with a selected key to be released, said depressible ejector having an end portion normally extending into the end of said channels and slidable over the edges thereof from channel tor channel as said member is slid to a position over a selected key channel whereby a desired key can be selected by the sense of touch.

9. In combination, a key case comprising a casing having a plurality of key channels therein, a key member in each channel, each key member being formed at least in part of magnetic material and having a bearing lug at one end adapted to slide in said channel, said casing having a slot adjacent one end of each channel for passing the key member and a bearing for receiving and retaining said bearing lug at the last mentioned end of each of said channels, a magnet mounted in said casing adjacent the other end of said channels to releasably retain the keys therein by magnetic attraction and means for selectively releasing any key from engagement with the magnet comprising a manually depressible selector mov able over the ends of the key slots.

10. In a device of the character described, a headless key blank consisting of a shank and a bearing lug of magnetic material on one face thereof at the end opposite the insertion end of said shank, the periphery of said lug being circular except for a dat portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shank.

ll. A key member adapted for use in a key case of the character described, comprising a headless shank having a straight back edge extending substantially from end to end thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shank and a bearing lug of magnetic material on one face thereof at the end opposite the insertion end of said shank, the periphery of said lug being circular except for a nat portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shank.

HOMER N. OLSEN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,671 Cox Dec. 23, 1902 1,057,874 Paluh Apr. l, 1913 1,974,547 Slade Sept. 25, 1934 2,270,621 Brugnoni Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 63,470 Germany July 16, 1892 288,344 Germany Oct. 28, 1915 

